*  / 


OCT  a    119^^ 


oo- 


CENTRALIZED  GOVERNMENT 

FOR 


-t^j 


o\s,-yc^' 


Alameda  County  and  Its  Cities 

*  Under  a  System  of  Boroughs,  Whereby  Each  City  Retains  Its 

Present  Identity  and  Independence — Fixes  Its  Own  Tax 

Rate,  also  Controls  Borough  Expenditures 


1  -p  t<  *  /^^r 

UNIVERSITY     ), 


A  COMPARISON 

OF 

The  Present  System  with  the  Proposed  Plan;  Showing  Advantages 

'to  be  Secured  Under  Centralized  Control 

and  Business  Management 


CITY  AND  COUNTY  GOVERNMENT 
AS  A  BUSINESS  PROPOSITION 


Issued  by 

City  and  County  Government  Association 

1206  Broadway,  Oakland,  Cal. 
AUGUST.  1916 


File  this  pamphlet  for  future  reference — ^as  you  will  receive  other  literature  on 
the  subject,  and  should  be  prepared  to  express  an  opinion  on  the  contemplated  plan 


':> 


t 


CITY  AND  COUNTY  GOVERNMENT  ASSOCIATION, 
ALAMEDA  COUNTY. 


PRESIDENT, 

Edgar  C.  Bradley 


VliCE-PRESIDENTS 


Edward  K.  Taylor 

TREASURER 
Harry   A.    Mosher 


V.  O.  Lawrence 


EXECUTIVE   SECRETARY 

Edward  "W.  Williams 


EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

Edgar  C.  Bradley,  Chairman 
Fred  G.  Athearn  Miss  Blanche  Morse 

Benjamin  J.  Bither  Hon.  George  C.  Pardee 

Gilbert  B.  Daniels  Rev.  Albert  W.  Palmer 

Charles  L.  Dunscombe  Benjamin  H.  Pendleton 

James  Gartland  Harrison  S.  Robinson 

Frederic  Kahn  Mark  I>  Requa 

Joseph  H.  King  Charles  E.   Snook 

Hon.  Joseph  R.  Knowland  Charles  F.  Strong 

Greene   Majors  Edw.   K.   Taylor 

Miss  Ethel  Moore  Dr.   Carl  Walliser 

G.  W.  Purcell 

LAW  COMMITTEE 

Robert  M.   Fitzgerald,   Chairman 
Beverly  L.  Hodghead  A.  Fred  St.  Sure 

CAMPAIGN   COMMITTETE 

Fred  G.  Athearn,  Chairman 
Edwin  B.  Bull  Charles  H.   Spear 

Joseph  J,  Rosborough  W.  H.  Wellbye 

FINANCE   COMMITTEE 

A.   S.  Liavenson,  Chairman 


S.  EL  Biddle 
W.  K.  Cole 
Frederic  Kahn 
V.  O.  Lawrence 


Walter  H.  Leimert 
Russell  Lowry 
Frank  L.  Naylor 
FVank  J.   Woodward 


ORGANIZATION    AND   MEMBERSHIP    COMMITTEE 

Charles  E.  Snook,  Chairman 
Miss  Ethel   Moore  James  Gartland 

Miss  Blanche  Morse  Dr.  Carl  Walliser 


Oakland 

Arthur  Arlett 

Fred  A.  Baldwin 

C.   A.   Beardsley 

Dr.  W.  M.  Beckwith 

S.  E.  Biddle 

F.  W.  Bilger 

Clifton  E.  Brooks 

Miss  Annie  F.  Brown 

Judge  Everett  J.  Brown 

E.  B.   Bull 

Dr.  S.  H.  Buteau 

H.  C.  Capwell 

A.  B.  Carter 

Mrs,  A.  E.  Carter 

Mrs.  A.  C.  Christensen 

Mrs.  A.  F.  Coffin 

W.  K.  Cole 


MEMBERSHIP 
Alameda 

Mrs.  Eileen  Allen 
W.    A.    Bissell 
C.   A.  Borle 
Mrs.  A.  J.  Burgner 
Geo-  A.  Dillman 

C.  J.  Du  Four 
Miss  Violet  Frances 
Mrs.  Halvor  Hauch 
Hon.  W.  H.  L.  Hynes 
Mrs.  J.  G.  Kearney 
Greene    Majors 
Frank  Otis 

D.  L.  Randolph 
W.   O.  Smith 
Fred  A.    St.    Sure 
T.  C.  Stoddard 
B.  K.  Taylor 

3409^3 


Berkeley 

Dr.   Thos.  Addison 

Fred  G.  Athearn 

Dr.  David  P.  Barrows 

George  P.   Baxter 

Louis  Bartlett 

Richard  B.  Bell 

R.  A.  Berry 

B.  J.  Bither 

W.   F.   Boardman 

Edgar  C.  Bradley 

O.  B.  Caldwell 

Frank   V.    Cornish 

Prof.  C.  L.  Cory 

Geo.  W.   Cox 

Mrs.  Mary  R  CooUdge 

P.  H.   Coolidge 

F,  A.  Penlcke 


Oakland — Continued 
Fred  W.  Confer 
John  J.  Cox 
P.  A.  Cox 
Mrs.  Lu  P.  Crane 
G.  B.  Daniels 
George  S.  Daniels 
A.  S.  Day 

Rev.  B.  P.  Dempsey 
Mrs.  E.  B.  De  Rome 
Judge  W.  H.  Donohue 
J.  C.  Downey 

A.  L.  Duncan 

B.  T.  Dunn 
Guy  C.  E^arl 

J.  Y.  Bccleston 

A.  H.  Elliott 
"Wallace  EJverson 
R.  M.  Fitzgerald 
Mrs.  Geo.  Fredericks 
William  Nat  Friend 

B.  A.  Gamble 
James  Gartland 
"W.  E.  Gibson 
Mrs.  W.  E.  Gibson 
Wilson  S.  Gould 
W.  H.  Graham 

Dr.  Eva  Harris 
Judge  W.  T.  Harris 
Mrs.  H.  E.  Hawes 
Dr.  T.  B.  Holmes 
Owen  E.  Hotle 
John  L.  Howard 
Henry  Hufschmidt 
J.  M.  Hyland 
George  Ingraliam 
H.  A.  Johnson 
A.  E.  Johnstone 
Roscoe  D.  Jones 
John  BJ.  Jordan 
William  C.  Jurgens 
Frederick  Kahn 

E.  C.  Kayser 
Miss  Anna  Keefe 
Dr.  A.  S-  Kelley 
Dr.  J.  F.  King 
Joseph  H.  King 
H.  A.  Lafler 

A.  S.  L«avenson 
Mrs.  Frank  G.  Law 
V.  O.  Lawrence 

M.  J.  Laymance 

F.  W.  Leavitt 

F.  W.  Le  Balllster 

W.  H.  Leimert 

Russell  Lowry 

J.  W.  McClymonds 

James  E.  McElroy 

George  S.  Meredith 

Hon.  Victor  H.  Metcalf 

J.  R.  Millar 

Grant  D.  Miller 

L.  A.  Moberry 

Miss  Ethel  Moore 

Robert  S.  Moore 

H-  A.  Mosher 

J.  R,  Munsell 

Rev.  A.  W.   Palmer 

Mrs.  A.  W.  Palmer 

Hon.  Geo.  C.  Pardee 

J.  H.  Pedgrlft 

B.  H.   Pendleton 
John  W.   Phillips 
Warren    Plllsburv 
Prof.  G.  H.  Pfund 
Miss  Margaret  Poore 


MEMBERSHIP 

Alameda — Continued 
Hon.  Jos.  R.   Knowland 
Mrs.   Jos.   R.   Knowland 
Wynn  Meredith 


Piedmont 

Hon.  A.  H.  Breed 
Hon.    Oliver    Ellsworth 
Mrs.  F.  C.  Havens 
Mrs.  Edgar  L.  Ormsby 
Mark  L.  Requa 
Chas.   A.    Strong 
Oscar  Sutro 
Mrs.  John  Vallance 
Willard  Williamson 


Emeryville 
Mrs.  Chas.  S.  Chamberlain 


Niles 
Chris  Runckle 


San   Leandro 

Dr.  Chas.   H.  Miller 


Livermore 

A.  L.  Henry 


Oakland — Continued 
Wm.   A.  Powell 
Harry  Li  Price 
G.  W.  Purcell 
F.  M.  Ray 
Mrs.  F.  M.  Ray 
Mrs.  B.  C.  Robinson 
H.  S.  Robinson 
J.  J-  Rosborough 
J.  N.   Salinger 
H.    H.    Sanborn 
Frank  Scarper 

D.  G.   Scofleld 
Fred  L.  Shaw 

Mrs.  E.  D.   Shertzer 
Chas.   L.   Smith 
Chas.  E.   Snook 
John  W.  Stetson 
Mrs.   B.   A.   Stone 
Chas.  A.   Sturm 
Chas.   W.   Snook 
Dr.  H.  G.   Thomas 
Mrs.  F.  C.  Turner 

E.  L.  Vander  Naillen 
W.  H.  Wellbye 

Dr.  Carl  Walllser 
Mrs.  C.  B.  Wilson 
MJss  Bessie  Wood 
P.  J.  Walker 


Berkeley — Continued 
Chas.  L.  Dunscombe 
T.  H.  Fallon 
F.    W.    Foss 
Alan    G.   Freeman 
J.  D.  Galloway 
Dr.   A.   F.   Gillihan 

B.  D.  M.   Greene 
Gordon  Hall 
Chas.  D.  Heywood 
Beverly   L.    Hodghead 
Mrs.   Carrie  Hoyt 
Mrs.  J.  B.  Hume 
Hon.  S.  C.  Irving 
Prof.    Wm.    Cary   Jones 

C.  C.  Juster 
Stephen  Ei  Kieffer 
H.  L.  Leupp 

Prof-  J.  C.  Merriam 
C.  S.  Merrill 
Ralph   P.    Merritt 
Oscar  V.  McCracken 
W.   F.   McClure 
Frank  Miller 
Mrs.  R.  O.  Moody 
Miss  Blanche  Morse 
Frank  L.  Naylor 
Elmer  E.   Nichols 
R.   W.    Osborne 

E.  S.   Page 

Rev.   E.   L.   Parsons 
Prof.  Carl  C.  Plehn 
Hon.  Warren  R.  Porter 
Prpf.   Thos.   H.   Reed 
Mrs.  H.  N.  Rowell 

F.  T.  Robson 

Mrs.   F.   W.    Searby 
W.  A.   Shockley 
Seldon  C.  Smith 
Walter   Sorensen 
Chas.   H.   Spear 
L.  W.  Storror 
Frank   Stringham 
Vincent  Surr 
Perry  T.  Tompkins 
Robt.    H.   Wetmore 
B.  W.  Williams 
F.  M.  Wilson 
Frank  J.  Woodward 


A  COMPARISON 

Showing  Why  the  East  Bay  Cities  and  the  County  Should  Unite 

Under  a  Federated  Cities  and  County  System  With  a  Modern 

Business  Charter  for  City  and  County  Government 


CONDITIONS  UNDER  THE  PRES- 
ENT SYSTEM  OF  DUAL  GOV- 
ERNMENT. 

There  are  TEN  separate  municipal 
governments  in  Alameda  County. 
Sometimes  they  work  in  harmony 
and  sometimes  not,  but  ahvays  with- 
out proper  co-ordination.  The 
countj'^  is  superimposed  on  the 
municipalities,  with  a  duplicating 
set  of  officials  and  officers. 

The  valuation  of  property  for  as- 
sessment purposes  for  the  cities  and 
county  is  not  the  same.  This  re- 
sults in  confusion  and  inconvenience 
to  the  public,  and  requires  the  pre- 
paration of  two  delinquent  tax 
rolls. 

Co-operation  as  to  matters  of  com- 
mon interest  is  lacking  and  well 
nigh  impossible. 


At  present  there  are  in  the  cities 
and  the  county: 
9  Assessors. 
11  Tax  Collectors. 

11  Treasurers.  ' 

10  Chief  Clerks. 

4  School  Superintendents. 

5  Auditors. 

5  Purchasing  Agents. 
59  Districts    and    departments    pur- 
chasing supplies. 
(These  are  in  addition  to  the 
5  regular  purchasing  agents.) 
3  Chiefs  of  Police. 

1  Sheriff. 
7  Constables, 


WHAT  FEDERATION  WILL  DO 
UNDER  THE  PROPOSED  CITY 
AND  COUNTY  CHARTER. 

One  set  of  administrative  officials 
under  central  control. 

Each  city  maintains  its  present  in- 
dependence and  identity;  fixes  its 
tax  rate  and  the  purposes  for  which 
tax  money  shall  be  expended;  con- 
trols the  liquor  question  and  police 
and  health  regulations. 

There  will  be  one  valuation  of 
property  for  all  tax  assessment  pur- 
poses and  only  one  delinquent 
tax  roll  will  be  necessary. 

Borough  boards  or  councils  adopt 
all  policies,  but  the  details  thereof 
are  carried  out  by  experts  appointed, 
under  civil  service,  solely  for  their 
fitness. 


Under  the  proposed  plan  there  will 
be: 

1  Assessor. 

1  Tax  Collector  and  Treasurer. 

(These  offices  are  combined  and 
one  office  takes  the  place  of  20.) 

1  Chief  Clerk. 

1  School  Superintendent. 

1  Auditor. 

1  Purchasing  Agent. 

(Will  do  the  work  now  done  b^^ 
5  purchasing  agents  and  59  dif- 
ferent bodies.) 

1  Chief  of  Police. 

(Will  perform  the  duties  of  the 
Sheriff,  as  well  as  that  of  all  Chiefs 
of  Police  and  Constables.) 


CONDITIONS  UNDER  THE  PRES- 
ENT SYSTEM  OF  DUAL  GOV- 
ERNMENT. 

10  City  Attorne^^s  and  one  District 
Attorney. 

Also   other  duplicating  officials. 


WHAT  FEDERATION  WILL  DO 
UNDER  THE  PROPOSED  CITY 
AND  COUNTY  CHARTER. 

1  City  Attorney  and  one  District 
Attorney  with  Deputies  will  at- 
tend to  the  legal  work. 

Many  other  officials  and  boards, 
who  are  now  duplicating  work, 
will  be  eliminated. 


Number  of  Employees  at  present 
in  the  county  and  the  cities  are  ap- 
proximately 4000. 

This  number  and  the  amount  paid 
annually  for  salaries  are  steadily 
increasing. 


Under  the  proposed  plan  all  offi- 
cials performing  duplicating  func- 
tions would  be  eliminated  and 
many  other  offices  would  be  con- 
solidated, thereby  saving  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  dollars  annually. 


There  is  no  single  head  on  whom 
to  fix  responsibility.  The  law  in- 
geniously divides  responsibility 
among  all  of  the  elective  officers. 
This  results  in  shifting  of  blame  and 
inefficiency. 


The  Proposed  City  and  County 
charter  provides  for  a  manager, 
who  shall  be  the  responsible  head 
of  all  departments.  All  adminis- 
trative officers  will  be  appfointed, 
after  qualifying  by  an  examination, 
instead  of  being  electedL 


'  At  present  there  is  no  "Home 
Rule"  in  county  affairs.  The  leg- 
islature, almost  every  session, 
adds  more  officers  and  employees, 
whether  needed  or  not.  The  tax- 
payers must  provide  funds  to  pay 
the  salaries. 

At  the  last  session  the  Legisla- 
ture  increased  the  salary  roll  of 
Alameda  County  approximately 
$32,000.  This  added  to  the  tax  rate 
nearly  li^  cents. 


The  Proposed  Charter  for  the  city 
and  county  will  provide  for  com- 
plete "Home  Rule,"  in  fixing  the 
number  and  salaries  of  all  officers 
and  employees. 

The  people  themselves  can  say 
what  they  want  and  when  they  want 
it,  instead  of  leaving  it  to  the  Leg- 
islature, every  two  years,  to  create 
offices  that  may  or  may  not  be 
needed,  and  for  which  the  taxpayer 
must  pay. 


♦  Administrative   Officers   are   now 

elected  not  for  their  fitness,  but  by 
reason  of  their  popularity. 

Both  in  the  cities  and  the  county, 
officers  are  compelled  to  offer  them- 
selves for  re-election  every  two  or 
four  years,  and  are  o'bliged  to 
enter    the     arena    of    politics    and 


Under  the  proposed  system  ad- 
ministrative officers,  such  as  the 
County  Clerk  and  Recorder,  Tax 
Collector,  Assessor,  etc.,  are  ap- 
pointed under  civil  service.  They 
^vill  be  trained  men,  and  Avill  have 
a  guaranteed  tenure  of  office  as  long 


CONDITIONS  UNDER  THE  PRES- 
ENT SYSTEM  OF  DUAL  GOV- 
ERNMENT. 

spend  a  good  share  of  the  peo- 
ple's time,  paid  for  at  high  rates 
out  of  the  public  treasury  and  money 
they  should  use  for  their  own  per- 
sonal needs,  in  making  friends  who 
mil  assist  them  in  re-election,  thus 
diverting  to  campaign  purposes 
money  and  time  that  neither  the 
candidates  nor  the  people  can  afford 
to  have  thus  diverted. 

Inefficiency    and     disorganization 
are  the  results. 


•  Under  the  present  system  the  su- 
pervisors and  various  city  councils 
have  legisiative  as  well  as  admin- 
istrative powers.  They  present  the 
unique  spectacle  of  appropriating 
money  to  their  own  departments,  as 
administrative  officers,  then  spend- 
ing the  money  appropriated,  then,  as 
a  legislative  body,  approving  their 
o\\'n  acts. 


•  Under  the  present  system  of  sep- 
arate governments,  all  mianner  of 
prices  are  paid  for  supplies  by  the 
various  purchasing  agents. 

One  purchasing  agent  pays  list 
price — another  buys  at  retail — and 
still  others  buy  at  wholesale. 

There  is  no  standardization  of 
quality,  quantity  or  price. 


*  Under  the  present  system  taxes 
for  benefits  and  the  cost  of  improve- 
ments are  increasing  out  of  propor- 
tion to  the  increase  in  property 
values.  Improvements '  are  made 
without  any  definite  program  as  to 
future  requirements,  and  are  not  in 
concert  -mth  any  uniform  plan  for 
all  the  cities  within  the  county. 


WHAT  FEDERATION  WILL  DO 
UNDER  THE  PROPOSED  CITY 
AND  COUNTY  CHARTER. 

as  they  "make  good."  They  must 
devote  the  whole  of  their  time  to  the 
duties  of  the  office  and  will  be 
under  no  compulsion  to  dtevote  time 
and  salaries  to  campaign  require- 
ments. 

Tenure  of  office  becomes  secure, 
and  efficiency  and  organization  will 
be  the  result. 


The  proposed  charter  provides 
that  the  elected  council,  or  city 
board,  shall  have  only  legislative 
powers.  It  may  levy  the  tax,  appro- 
priate the  money  and  adopt  policies, 
but  the  actual  carrying  out  of  the 
policies  and  the  administration  of  all 
business  is  left  in  the  hands  of 
trained  experts,  under  the  super- 
vision of  the  manager. 


Under  a  central  purchasing  sys- 
tem for  the  federated  cities  and 
county,  with  a  competent  purchas- 
ing agent  in  charge,  the  quality, 
quantity  and  prices  will  be  stand- 
ardized, supplies  will  be  bought  in 
large  quantities,  and  proper  dis- 
counts from  wholesale  lists  will  be 
obtained. 


Under  the  proposed  plan  a  reduc- 
tion in  taxes  will  result  by  city  plan- 
ning for  all  the  cities  as  a  unit,  in 
accordance  with  a  consistent  pro- 
gram laid  out  with  a  view  to  future 
needs  and  extending  over  a  period 
of  years,  as  was  suggested  by  Dr. 
Werner  Hegemann,  who  made  a  sur- 
vey of  the  East  Bay  Cities. 


CONDITIONS  UNDER  THE  PRES- 
ENT SYSTEM  OF  DUAL  GOV- 
ERNMENT. 

•  Employees  of  the  Comity,  as  well 
as  in  many  of  the  cities,  are  not 
under  civil  service  and  are  subject 
to  change  at  each  election.  This 
condition  produces  a  lack  of  interest 
in  their  -work  and  keeps  them  con- 
tinually in  politics.  Can  such  a 
system  be  anything  but  inefficient? 


At  present  there  is  no  uniform 
standard  for  the  school  departments 
of  the  various  cities  and  districts  in 
tlie  county.  One  department  pro- 
vides for  a  given  activity  in  one 
way,  and  another  for  the  same 
activity  in  another  way.  There  are 
several  boards  and  several  school 
superintendents,  thus  causing  a 
heavv  overhead  cost. 


**The  Purchasing-  Power  of  the 
"Tax  Dollar"  is  decreasing  each 
year,  as  is  evidenced  by  the  increas- 
ing tax  rate. 


v  Citizens  under  our  present  sys- 
tem, are  compelled  to  pay  taxes  on 
the  same  piece  of  property  at  sep- 
arate times  and  at  different  places. 
The  tax  rate  is  based  upon  different 
valuations,  these  valuations  being 
often  estimated  by  ''rule  of  thumb." 


We  have  now  in  the  county  and 
in  the  cities  some  10  justices  of  the 
peace  and  police  judges.  Some  of 
the  judges  put  in  aJbout  one-third 
time,  others  half  time,  but  all  draw 
full  pay.  The  justices  and  police 
judges  are  elected;  report  to  no  su- 
perior; and  hold  court  indiependently 
and  irregularly. 


WHAT  FEDERATION  WILL  DO 
UNDER  THE  PROPOSED  CITY 
AND   COUNTY  CHARTER. 

All  Employees  appointed  will  be 
subject  to  civil  service  regulation 
(preference  will  'be  given  to  those 
now  iji  office).  They  will  all  be  re- 
quired to  do  a  full  day's  work.  Ef- 
ficiency methods  and  records  will  be 
installed  Avhereby  the  worthy  will  be 
protected  and  the  drones  weeded  out. 


The  proposed  plan  provides  for  a 
united  school  department  for  the 
whole  county,  with  uniform  stand- 
ards in  educational  matters  and  a 
fixed  program  for  future  expansion 
and  activities.  This  will  reduce  the 
present  annual  overhead  cost  as  well 
as  increase  efficiencv. 


Under  the  efficient  and  business 
methods  that  will  be  installed,  the 
"Tax  Dollar"  will  yield  one  hun- 
dred cents  to  the  taxpayer. 


All  taxes  will  be  paid  at  one  time 
and  at  one  place. 

The  tax  rate  will  be  based  on  one 
valuation,  determined  scientifically 
by  experts  competent  to  value  real 
estate  and  iinprovements. 


The  proposed  charter  abolishes 
all  justice  and  police  courts  and 
creates  in  their  stead  a  municipal 
court  with  five  departments.  The 
judges  of  these  departments  are 
prohibited  from  ipracticing  law 
within- the  county,  and  must  devote 
all  their  time  to  the  court's  busi- 
ness. The  court  has  jurisdiction 
over  the  entire  county. 


8 


CONDITIONS  UNDER  THE  PRES- 
ENT SYSTEM  OF  DUAL  GOV- 
ERNMENT. 

Present  transportation  facilities 
are  inadequate  to  supply  our  wants. 
The  traction  companies'  lines  extend 
through  all  the  East  Bay  Cities  as 
far  as  Haywards. 

They  are  operating  under  niary 
and  various  forms  of  franchises. 
Some  of  these  franchises  run  for 
long  and  some  for  short  terms.  This 
precludes  at  this  time,  or  even  in  the 
near  future,  an  effective  puWic  own- 
ership, should  the  people  desire  it. 

Under  existing  conditions,  exten- 
sions and  improvements  cannot 
readily  be  made,  for  the  reason  that 
the  present  franchise  provisions  em- 
barrass the  proper  financing  of  such 
extensions  and  improvements. 


•The  water  question,  how  to  get 
enough  water,  good  water  and  cheap 
water  for  the  eastbay  commumties, 
is  a  pressing  and  important  one.  Un- 
satisfactory as  the  conditions  now 
are,  they  will  in  a  very  short  time 
become  acute  and  the  gro^vtli  of  the 
communities  retarded  because  of  in- 
ability to  secure  adequate  water 
service. 

The  ten  separate  cities  and  towns 
of  Alam^eda  county  have  found  that 
no  one  of  them  can  properly  deal 
with  the  problem.' 

Separate  municipalities  form  arti- 
ficial divisions  preventing,  in  a  great 
measure,  the  proper  unity  of  action 
necessary  to  a  complete  success. 


WHAT  FEDERATION  WILL  DO 
UNDER  THE  PROPOSED  CITY 
AND  COUNTY  CHARTER. 

The  proposed  charter  provides  a 
remedy  whereby  the  people,  as  well 
as  the  traction  companies,  are  fully 
protected  in  all  their  rights,  yet  it 
makes  it  possible  for  the  companies 
to  surrender  all  their  existing  fran- 
chises and  in  return  receive  a 
'blanket  or  single  indeterminate 
franchise  covering  all  their  lines 
and  future  extensions  and  improve- 
ments. This  will  greatly  facilitate 
financing. 

At  the  same  time,  it  clears  the 
way  and  provides  a  method  where- 
by the  people,  at  any  time,  may 
take  over  the  whole  system  under 
public  ownership  at  a  price  that 
will  be  fair  to  both  the  people  and 
the  traction  companies.  The  pur- 
chase price  will  be  fixed  by  the  Rail- 
road Commission  on  the  basis  of  the 
actual  investment  wisely  and  hon- 
estly made  by  the  traction  com- 
panies, less  depreciation. 


Under  the  proposed  plan  of  city 
and  county  federation  a  single  gov- 
ernmental organization  sufficient  to 
handle  this  andi  all  other  community 
questions  is  created,  and  the  water 
question  becoraies  comparatively  e;isy 
of  solution.  The  proposed  charter 
provides  ways  and  means  whereby 
public  utilities,  including  water,  may 
be  taken  over  and  operated  under 
public  ownership. 

The  solution  of  this  question  so 
vitally  affecting  the  well-being,  com- 
fort and.  health  of  the  people  should 
in  itself  be  sufficient  justification 
for  the  adoption  of  the  proposed 
new  form  of  government. 


9 


CONDITIONS  UNDER  THE  PRES- 
ENT SYSTEM  OF  DUAL  GOV- 
ERNMENT. 

Under  present  conditions  the  bal- 
lot is  long,  complicated  and  mysti- 
fying. 


^  At  the  present  time  the  county  is 
facing  a  probable  increase  in  taxes 
to  meet  the  cost  of  purchasing  land 
and  constructing  buildings  to  ade- 
quately house  county  offices,  whose 
functions  overlap  those  of  city 
offices. 


The  present  municipal  and  county 
governments  of  Alameda  County  are 
an  effort  to  build,  upon  a  foundation 
of  a  worn-out  political  system,  a 
structure  adequate  to  meet  the  needs 
of  modem  business  and  social  con- 
ditions. These  dual  governments  are 
a  failure — unwieldly,  expensive  and 
inefficient. 


WHAT  FEDERATION  WILL  DO 
UNDER  THE  PROPOSED  CITY 
AND  COUNTY  CHARTER. 

Under  the  proposed  plan  the  bal- 
lot will  be  short,  simple  and  intel- 
ligible. 


Under    the    proposed    plan    the 

purchase  of  additional  land  and  the 
construction  of  new  buildings  to 
house  county  offices  would  be  un- 
necessary. Oakland's  beautiful  city 
hall  and  auditorium  would  become 
available  immediately  for  county,  as 
well  as  city  purposes. 


The  new  city  and  county  charter 
will  give  us  a  system  of  government 
that  has  been  scientifically  worked 
out  in  the  light  of  experience  and 
adapted  to  meet  the  requirements 
of  modem  economic,  industrial  and 
social  conditions.  Politics  and  spoils 
are  replaced  Iby  policies  and'  effi- 
ciency. The  interest  and  welfare  of 
the  few  give  way  to  the  good  of 
the  many. 


10 


',/ ;  •'.  •   • 


CAi.;iP>^^^-% 


POLniCS  MEANS  DETERMINING  POLI- 
CIES; ADMINISTRATION  MEANS  ENFORC- 
IxNG  THEM.  THERE  SHOULD  BE  NO  POLI- 
TICS IN  ADMINISTRATION.  POLITICS  AND 
PATRONAGE  MUST  BE  ELIMINATED  FROM 
THE  ADMINISTRATIVE  SERVICE  BEFORE 
ECONOMY  AND  EFFICIENCY  CAN  BE  AT- 
TAINED. 


^-m 


fw'{'*  ■ 


E  ON  THE  I.AS1  DA-tB 
THIS  BOOK  IS^^^^aoW        ^^^^^ 

AN     .N.T.AU^,rro^«    °'-f;°--- 
wa.1.  BE  »s=^="e  date  due.  the  ,h 

^»'=  ^°?«tsETO%0  CENTS  OHj»^_^,H    dAV 

APR  17    1533 


t-tB  «»  i9£:i 


Gaylord  Bros. 

Makers 

Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

PAT.  JAN,  21,1908 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  UBRARY 


